A 13-year-old girl who died suddenly after falling from a ski lift during a half-term school trip in Italy told friends she was OK just minutes before, her parents have said.

Poonam Bhattal slipped off a chair lift and fell 20 feet onto the piste during a morning ski lesson in the Claviere ski resort on February 22.

She quickly got up and told classmates from Guru Nanak Sikh Academy: "Im fine, Im fine, I promise," but died 20 minutes later. A post mortem found that Poonam suffered a small laceration of the right superior pulmonary vein in the fall, which led to fatal internal bleeding.

Poonam's final moments and the cause of death were revealed by her 'devastated' parents, who today (Thursday) laid to rest their "lovely, happy go lucky, beautiful girl."

Guru Nanak suspended all lessons and invited pupils and other mourners to gather at the school, in Springfield Road, Hayes, to pay their respects and pray before the 'final farewell' at the South West Middlesex Crematorium, in Feltham.

In a statement through the Foreign Office, her mother and father, from Langley, said: "Poonam was one of three daughters and was a perfect daughter, caring for others and striving to put a smile on everyones face. Nothing could stop her from laughing or having a good time as well as her dream of being famous and to be known across the globe."

Amreeta, Poonam's sister, added: "My sister had a heart of gold, we were getting closer as we were getting older and she will always live in my heart."

The Italian authority's investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Guru Nanak Sikh Academy in Yeading holds a memorial for Poonam Bhattal, 13, who died on a school ski holiday